Chicks with eye shut, ear swollen, what should be adecuate treatment?

[mirnajgonzalez24]

I was recently gifted some chicks from a friend of my sister. Once arrived, I noticed one had one eye shut, it died a few hours later after isolating. Then I noticed the other chicks had the same symptom. From 12 chicks, I now have 3 left. I started treating the remaining ones with VetRx. But I havent seen a major improvement. Just trying to see if I should continue this treatment or try another. And I would like to know what It is for future reference.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old are the chicks? Where are you located? If you lose any more chicks, the best thing to do would be to get a necropsy through your state poultry lab to identify what is killing them. It seems like they have come with a chronic respiratory disease. Those last for life, and make carriers of your chickens and new additions. Some, such as mycoplasma (MG) can be passed from the parents through the hatching eggs. It only lasts in the environment for about 3 days once all chickens are gone. So it is possible to get healthy chicks from a hatchery later on. Sorry for your loss. Here is a little reading about MG:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

 

[Isaac 0]

I'm very sorry to hear about your chicks.

Could you post a few pictures or a video, of the chicks affected? How old are they? Are they exhibiting signs of heavy breathing, or nasal discharge? Have you checked inside their mouth for any lesions? Do you have any photos of their poop?

Judging from the symptoms you describe, it's possible they have a respiratory infection. Respiratory diseases such as Mycoplasma Galliseptcum, or Coryza, can cause facial edema, and depending on the strain, can have high mortality rates in chicks. Coryza often produces thick cheesy-like, bad-smelling lesions inside the mouth.

There is no treatment for these viruses only antimicrobial therapy, and supportive care. Tylosin, doxycycline, or Baytril can be purchased online for MG, for Coryza, a sulfa drug would be best used. Birds affected with MG and Coryza will remain carriers for life, and overtime a new antibiotic may need to be chosen. You can have testing done by your state lab, or a national lab to determine the nature of which virus you're dealing with.

In addition to antimicrobial therapy, providing the birds with vitamins, especially zinc which supports immune response to viruses may prove useful, as would decreasing ammonia in their pen, reducing dust, and increasing ventilation.

https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
https://zoologix.com/avian/index.htm

 

[mirnajgonzalez24]

How old are the chicks? Where are you located? If you lose any more chicks, the best thing to do would be to get a necropsy through your state poultry lab to identify what is killing them. It seems like they have come with a chronic respiratory disease. Those last for life, and make carriers of your chickens and new additions. Some, such as mycoplasma (MG) can be passed from the parents through the hatching eggs. It only lasts in the environment for about 3 days once all chickens are gone. So it is possible to get healthy chicks from a hatchery later on. Sorry for your loss. Here is a little reading about MG:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/poultry/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

How old are the chicks? Where are you located? If you lose any more chicks, the best thing to do would be to get a necropsy through your state poultry lab to identify what is killing them. It seems like they have come with a chronic respiratory disease. Those last for life, and make carriers of your chickens and new additions. Some, such as mycoplasma (MG) can be passed from the parents through the hatching eggs. It only lasts in the environment for about 3 days once all chickens are gone. So it is possible to get healthy chicks from a hatchery later on. Sorry for your loss. Here is a little reading about MG:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/poultry/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

Not sure age, but I'm from Rhome, Tx. But oh my, I did think she gave them away because they were sick. But now knowing this is something passed down I'm deeply saddened. She supposedly has a hatchery where she breeds and sells chicks. I'll have to look into the necropsy then.

 

[Kiki]

Not sure age, but I'm from Rhome, Tx. But oh my, I did think she gave them away because they were sick. But now knowing this is something passed down I'm deeply saddened. She supposedly has a hatchery where she breeds and sells chicks. I'll have to look into the necropsy then.

https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/

 

[Kiki]

Not sure age, but I'm from Rhome, Tx. But oh my, I did think she gave them away because they were sick. But now knowing this is something passed down I'm deeply saddened. She supposedly has a hatchery where she breeds and sells chicks. I'll have to look into the necropsy then.

Does she have a website?
Facebook?

 

[mirnajgonzalez24]

I'm very sorry to hear about your chicks.

Could you post a few pictures or a video, of the chicks affected? How old are they? Are they exhibiting signs of heavy breathing, or nasal discharge? Have you checked inside their mouth for any lesions? Do you have any photos of their poop?

Judging from the symptoms you describe, it's possible they have a respiratory infection. Respiratory diseases such as Mycoplasma Galliseptcum, or Coryza, can cause facial edema, and depending on the strain, can have high mortality rates in chicks. Coryza often produces thick cheesy-like, bad-smelling lesions inside the mouth.

There is no treatment for these viruses only antimicrobial therapy, and supportive care. Tylosin, doxycycline, or Baytril can be purchased online for MG, for Coryza, a sulfa drug would be best used. Birds affected with MG and Coryza will remain carriers for life, and overtime a new antibiotic may need to be chosen. You can have testing done by your state lab, or a national lab to determine the nature of which virus you're dealing with.

In addition to antimicrobial therapy, providing the birds with vitamins, especially zinc which supports immune response to viruses may prove useful, as would decreasing ammonia in their pen, reducing dust, and increasing ventilation.

https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
https://zoologix.com/avian/index.htm

I just edited the post to add pictures, didnt add the first time. They aren't really exhibiting any other symptoms besides the closed eye and swollen around the ear. They seemed to be eating normal and poop also looks normal. At first I thought it was some sort of cold since they were born in Houston and I brought them up to Rhome, Tx. Thanks for the info. I will definently look into everything hoping the remaining 3 survive.

 

[Kiki]

I just edited the post to add pictures, didnt add the first time. They aren't really exhibiting any other symptoms besides the closed eye and swollen around the ear. They seemed to be eating normal and poop also looks normal. At first I thought it was some sort of cold since they were born in Houston and I brought them up to Rhome, Tx. Thanks for the info. I will definently look into everything hoping the remaining 3 survive.

Chickens don't get colds.


In Houston where?

 

[Isaac 0]

Here is a thread relating how to send a bird to a necropsy lab,

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

Kiki gave you a link to your state lab.

I just edited the post to add pictures, didnt add the first time. They aren't really exhibiting any other symptoms besides the closed eye and swollen around the ear. They seemed to be eating normal and poop also looks normal. At first I thought it was some sort of cold since they were born in Houston and I brought them up to Rhome, Tx. Thanks for the info. I will definently look into everything hoping the remaining 3 survive.

Could you check inside their mouth, and gently part the feathers around their ear, and look inside?

 

[RainbowHen]

Not sure age, but I'm from Rhome, Tx. But oh my, I did think she gave them away because they were sick. But now knowing this is something passed down I'm deeply saddened. She supposedly has a hatchery where she breeds and sells chicks. I'll have to look into the necropsy then.

How sad. I desperately hope that isn't the case. Best of luck